APC clears air on why Otu replaced Uzodimma as Edo guber primary chair

APC clears air on why Otu replaced Uzodimma as Edo guber primary chair

Joel Oladele, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown light on why Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was replaced by Governor Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers as chairman of Edo State governorship primary “re-run” election.

The party’s Spokespersons, Felix Morka, while briefing newsmen on Thursday said Uzodimma was engaged on another official assignment of presenting  a report to the National Economic Council on the same day fixed for the completion of the election in question.

National Periscope earlier reported that APC had on Wednesday replaced the Imo State governor with his Cross River State counterpart, Bassey Otu, as chairman of the Electoral Panel, to complete the governorship primary election earlier declared inconclusive.

Morka while debunking the insinuation in some Media outlets that Uzodimma was sacked said; “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to reports in sections of the media suggesting that the Governor of Imo State, and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma, was sacked or dropped as the Chairman of the Edo Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee, and replaced with the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Bassey Otu.

“We wish to clarify that Governor Uzodinma was neither “sacked” nor “dropped”, as has been erroneously reported, but was unavoidably unavailable to lead the completion of the Party’s Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process due to his prior scheduled attendance of, and presentation of a report, to the National Economic Council meeting today February 22, 2024.

“As a result, His Excellency Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross Rivers State, who was the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, graciously accepted to serve as Chairman, and to complete the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process.”